Future Shock Blog

Minor League Update: Games of May 1

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Is Colon ever going to live up the the expectations generally associated with the No. 4 overall pick in the draft? Almost certainly not. That doesn't make him a bust. He doesn't have a lot of tools, but he's a wonderful baseball player with great instincts in the field and on the bases, and he can play anywhere in the infield. With a .292/.343/.427 line in 25 games that bat is starting to come alive and I'd still wager this guy lasts a decade in the big leagues as a second division starter/utility guy.

Others Of Note:

Matt Adams, 1B, Cardinals (Triple-A Memphis): 2-for-4, 2 2B, R, RBI, K. After going deep of each of his first three games, he's hit just one in 18 contests; still, he's hitting, with a .333/.371/.560 line in 21 games.

Hak-Ju Lee, SS, Rays (Double-A Montgomery): 2-for-5, 3B, R, RBI, 2 K. Third straight multi-hit game and sixth in last seven has lifted OPS more than 200 points in a week; .255/.319/.349 overall.

Taylor Lindsey, 2B, Angels (High-A Inland Empire); 3-for-4, R, RBI, K. One of the best young pure hitters around; .322/.388/.483 in 25 games and 20-year-old making full-season debut at High-A.

Starling Marte, OF, Pirates (Triple-A Indianapolis): 2-for-5, 2B, R, 2 RBI, 2 K. Hasn't had a lot of big games to make the daily, but has been consistently solid with an improved approach; .283/.353/.489.

Leonys Martin, OF, Rangers (Triple-A Round Rock): 2-for-3, SB. Left game late but not for call-up as he jammed his thumb. Shame, because at .347/.423/.520, it looks like he could help.

Kevin, Is there any chance that Middlebrooks (if he's hitting well) will stay up and in the line-up even after Youk returns? Is it a longshot to think Boston moves either Youk or A-Gone to the OF while they are so thin there? Both have been run out there in the past a few times... Thanks...

Let's not get so crazy about Youkilis here. He is on the wrong side of 30 and hasn't been able to stay healthy the past couple of years. While I think it's unlikely that he gets Wally Pipp-ed, it wouldn't be the most insane thing ever.

It seems that there are some interesting hitters starting to emerge in A Ball at 2B. If we're to assume Alen Hanson can't stay at SS and moves to 2B, how would you rank the ceilings (defense aside) of Hanson, Sean Coyle and Taylor Lindsey, KG? They all seem to have an interesting hit tool and enough power to be dangerous at the keystone.

Regarding Erlin throwing too many strikes is that anything to be concerned about? It seems like that would be a pretty easy thing to fix. Is it possible (or likely) that the team is having him throw an excessive amount of strikes for a reason?

Kevin, I know Cardenas has always had a good hit tool (according to gurus like yourself), butISO - .247, twice as high as at any other level
K% - 3.4%, basically 1/3 his lowest at any other levelBB% - 9.2% is within his normal range

87 PA's with 11 XBH, 8 BB, and only 3 K's is crazy-ville hotness, not just a guy with a good hit tool (unless you think its small sample size noise, which it might be).

I posted a question in two spots and apparently that is too much for some. I am sure that there questions that Kevin or other BP writers overlook, etc so I asked it a second time.

As for a question involving speculation, in my opinion much of what is done regarding prospects and how they will do in the future, how they will be handled by their clubs, etc is just that -- speculation.

I apologize for asking the same question twice...I'll try to limit myself to only asking once -- don't want to violate one of the unwritten rules of the BP website.